The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
A New Order in Regard to Senate
Secret Sessions.
A Memorial to the Senate from the
Maine State Grange.
Senator Frye Congratulated on His
Speech on the Fishery Question.


Speech on the Fishery Question.
The Business Transacted In the
Senate Yesterday.
Especial to the PREss.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.
The secret sessions of the Senate seem to
be more firmly fixed than ever. An order
has just been promulgated to the effect that
the doors of the chamber and Of the galleries
shall not be opened until ten minutes after
the adjournment of secret sessions. The
object of this is to allow time for all execu-
tive documents and papers to be gathered up
and put out Of sight. The order is giving
considerable annoyance to newspaper men
and others who desire to see Senators after
adjournment. There are half dozen diff
ferent exits to the chamber. and during the
ten minutes elapsing between adjournment
and the opening of the doors every Senator
has abundant time to leave, SO that when
outsiders gain entrance to the chamber they
find it deserted, and in order to see the Sem
ator they desire they must visit him at his
home. This new order is likely to work
more to the advantage of those desiring the
end Of secret sessions than to the lovers Of
secrecy.
Senator Hale on Monday presented to the
Senate a memorial of the Maine State
Grange, representing 1900 farmers, protest
ing against the passage of bill extending
patent issued Oct 9TH, 1862 to David l.
Carver, for an improvement in harrows, for
term of seven years from Oct. 9th, 1886. 1t
appears that Carver has sold this patent to
the firm of ID. c. & II. c. Reed, manufac-
turers of spring tooth harrows, Of Kala-
mazoo, Mich. This firm has repeatedly
prosecuted and extorted money from farmers
using other kinds Of spring tooth harrows,
and on this account the farmers protest
against the extension of the patent. The
memorial is signed by Frederick Robie.
Grand Master, and f. A. Allen, Secretary,
and is under the seal of the State Grange.
Yesterdays fishery debate in the Senate
has been the prominent subject of converse
tion today, and Senator Frye has been the
recipient of many congratulations for his
speech. This mornings New York Tribune
speaks Of it thus: "The speech of the day
was delivered by Senator Frye, who in
strong, yet temperate, language described
the wrongs inflicted upon American fisher
men and appealed to the patriotism of the
country to see that the wrongs were righted.
Mr.. Evarts, too. made strong argument,
and so did others, but none succeeded in
raising apparent enthusiasm as did Mr..
Frye"
The Senate today agreed to the report of
the conference committee on the Dawes In
dian severalty bill, and it will soon become
law. The bill as agreed to by the conference
committee is practically the same as origin
ally passed by the Senate, and is very salts
factory to the friends Of the Indian cause.
Pensions for Maine People.
Pensions have been granted to the follow
ing Maine people:
Nathan Emerson, (deceased) original, Bucks
Geo. b. Morrill,, original, Lewiston
stephen II. Mills, original, South Norrldge-
wock.
Irving King, original, Hallowell.
VIM Il. CroSsley, increase, Fairfield.
Hosea H. Knowles, reissue. Portland.
Henry Nj. Neal, increase, Whitehead.
Geo. w. Pelton, reissue and increase, West
Gardiner.
A Cabinet Meeting.
The Cabinet meeting today was attended
by all the members except the Secretary Of
War, who is out of the city. The principal
topic of discussion was the action of the
Senate yesterday on the Canadian fishery
question, in the course of which the question
arose as to the legality of recent seizures of
British vessels near Seal Islands for alleged
violation Of laws regulating the hunting of
seals at or near those islands.
Business in the Senate.
A hundred or more ladies from all parts Of
the country, leaders in the Woman Suffrage
movement, were in the Senate gallery today
when Senator Blair moved to postpone pend
ing business for the purpose of discussing
the proposed constitutional amendment Civ
ing the right Of suffrage TO women.
Senator Call, whose resolution relating to
the Florida railroad was under discussion,
made plea against the proposition to dis
place 1t.
Senator George called attention to the un-
finished state of the bill for the establish
ment Of agricultural experiment stations,
setting forth its parliamentary rights and
protesting against any action which would
push it permanently aside.
Senator Beck reminded the Senate Of the
notice he gave last night OF his purpose to
press the railroad attorney bill today, and
alluded to the long postponement OF this
measure, already once passed by the Senate
and brought back for reconsideration. A
very distinguished lady miss Anthony had
sent for him three times this morning, and
he had refused to 60 out because he knew he
would be unable to refuse what she would
ask
Mr.. Blair was unfortunate, and backed by
the influence of the gallery, proved zoo
strong for the array against him. Even
Senators Call and Beck, upon being brought
to the issue, voted against their own meas
ures and in favor Of the ladies' The vote
was as follows:
Yeas-Messrs Beck, Blair, Bowen, Brown, But
Ter, Call, Cheney, Conger Cullom, Dolph. Evarts,
Farweu Frye, Hale Hawley, Manderson, Mitch
ell of tOregon, Morrill,, Palmer, Platt, Plumb,
Ransom, sherman, Teller, and Wilson Of Iowa
20.
Nays-Messrs, Berry Blackburn. Cockrell,
Coke, George. Gibson, Gray, Mcmillan Morgan,
Payne, Pugh, Salisbury Sawyer, Vest, Walthall,
and WhitthoTne-16.